Advice for Budding Trainers

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Today, I received another message in my LinkedIn inbox asking me for advice on becoming a trainer. I have been asked this question by many individuals—students, junior colleagues, and folks who want to transition into training after having done something else for a while. Different people want to get into training for different reasons.

Today, I received another message in my LinkedIn inbox asking me for advice on becoming a trainer. I have been asked this question by many individuals—students, junior colleagues, and folks who want to transition into training after having done something else for a while. Different people want to get into training for different reasons. 

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First, understand that one cannot become a trainer overnight. It is a skill that is built over years. You must start slowly and work your way towards your goal. I had one young gentleman ask me what he could do to become like so and so on TV, addressing a stadium full of people.

First, understand that one cannot become a trainer overnight. It is a skill that is built over years. You must start slowly and work your way towards your goal. I had one young gentleman ask me what he could do to become like so and so on TV, addressing a stadium full of people. 

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Well, you can get there, but you have to work hard! And just to clarify, those folks are great orators and motivational speakers, but they’re not necessarily trainers. Below are some basic skills you will require to become a good trainer or facilitator.

Well, you can get there, but you have to work hard! And just to clarify, those folks are great orators and motivational speakers, but they’re not necessarily trainers. Below are some basic skills you will require to become a good trainer or facilitator. 

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Choose a domain in which to train. You must be very thorough in the area of expertise you choose. Whether it is painting, quilting, athletics, robotics, physics, computers, accounting, leadership, team building, or interpersonal skills—it does not matter. You need to be good at what you do. Only then can you train others in the subject. Even if you are not an expert, you need to be better than your target participants. Be better than beginners, then you can begin to train.

Choose a domain in which to train. You must be very thorough in the area of expertise you choose. Whether it is painting, quilting, athletics, robotics, physics, computers, accounting, leadership, team building, or interpersonal skills—it does not matter. You need to be good at what you do. Only then can you train others in the subject. Even if you are not an expert, you need to be better than your target participants. Be better than beginners, then you can begin to train. 

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Start small. Start by training a small group of people—students, children (if you can handle them), or a small group of adults. Volunteer to train so that you begin to find confidence in what you do. As you begin to facilitate for different groups, you will experience how different facilitation skills are required for different groups.

Start small. Start by training a small group of people—students, children (if you can handle them), or a small group of adults. Volunteer to train so that you begin to find confidence in what you do. As you begin to facilitate for different groups, you will experience how different facilitation skills are required for different groups. 

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Improve your facilitation skills. These skills are basic requirements to develop into a good facilitator.

Improve your facilitation skills. These skills are basic requirements to develop into a good facilitator. 

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  Communication skills: Both verbal and non-verbal communication is essential to becoming an expert facilitator. How do you say what you want to convey? How do you come across to others? What does your body language tell others about you? As a facilitator, you need to be aware of these cues, and practice good communication skills.

  Communication skills: Both verbal and non-verbal communication is essential to becoming an expert facilitator. How do you say what you want to convey? How do you come across to others? What does your body language tell others about you? As a facilitator, you need to be aware of these cues, and practice good communication skills.

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  Presentation skills: Using PowerPoint or other media to present content to an audience involves presentation skills. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that training is the same as having good presentation skills—they are related, but very different.

  Presentation skills: Using PowerPoint or other media to present content to an audience involves presentation skills. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that training is the same as having good presentation skills—they are related, but very different.

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  Public speaking skills: You must develop the ability to address an audience with confidence, and get your message across. I have trained some individuals in public speaking; today they facilitate training.

  Public speaking skills: You must develop the ability to address an audience with confidence, and get your message across. I have trained some individuals in public speaking; today they facilitate training.

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  Interpersonal skills: Communicating with and relating to other people, understanding diverse points of view and cultures, learning to manage your emotions, having respect for all individuals, and possessing assertiveness as well as humility—these are some of the skills that will serve you very well as a facilitator.

  Interpersonal skills: Communicating with and relating to other people, understanding diverse points of view and cultures, learning to manage your emotions, having respect for all individuals, and possessing assertiveness as well as humility—these are some of the skills that will serve you very well as a facilitator.

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  Networking skills: Network with other professionals, in your area of expertise, or in training. It can open different avenues of opportunity.

  Networking skills: Network with other professionals, in your area of expertise, or in training. It can open different avenues of opportunity.

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  Time management skills: You have only so much time to conduct your session meaningfully. Develop time management skills for not just managing time within the session, but learning to prioritize and manage the activities that go along with any training.

  Time management skills: You have only so much time to conduct your session meaningfully. Develop time management skills for not just managing time within the session, but learning to prioritize and manage the activities that go along with any training.

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  Instructional design skills: Instructional design teaches you how to include adult learning theories into the design of your contents. Some people intuitively get it, while others learn to understand it over time. Today there are many courses offered in instructional design. This may or may not help you in becoming a good facilitator, but at least you will learn the basic necessities of training design that you should include in your training.

  Instructional design skills: Instructional design teaches you how to include adult learning theories into the design of your contents. Some people intuitively get it, while others learn to understand it over time. Today there are many courses offered in instructional design. This may or may not help you in becoming a good facilitator, but at least you will learn the basic necessities of training design that you should include in your training.

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  Evaluation design skills: In companies, more and more, trainers are asked how the training is going to contribute to the business outcomes. Learn the business language. Learn the basic data-analysis skills required to evaluate your training programs. This is critical if you are going to pursue a training career.

  Evaluation design skills: In companies, more and more, trainers are asked how the training is going to contribute to the business outcomes. Learn the business language. Learn the basic data-analysis skills required to  evaluate your training programs. This is critical if you are going to pursue a training career.

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  Technological skills: A lot of training happens online. Learn the technology related to creating computer-based training content, and what is needed to deliver online sessions.

  Technological skills: A lot of training happens online. Learn the technology related to creating computer-based training content, and what is needed to deliver online sessions. 

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Create your own brand. Be original. There may be several people offering training on the same topic, so why should people come to you? What will you give them that others cannot? Think about this as you start to network and market yourself.

Create your own brand. Be original. There may be several people offering training on the same topic, so why should people come to you? What will you give them that others cannot? Think about this as you start to network and market yourself. 

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Be open to negative feedback. Trainers begin with this big idea that they are going to facilitate a great session. They may have visions of themselves mesmerizing the audience. In reality, the session may become challenging for various reasons, and things may not work out as you imagined. Be prepared to take negative feedback in a constructive manner, and move along. Your passion, optimism, and aspiration will help you develop along the way.

Be open to negative feedback. Trainers begin with this big idea that they are going to facilitate a great session. They may have visions of themselves mesmerizing the audience. In reality, the session may become challenging for various reasons, and things may not work out as you imagined. Be prepared to take negative feedback in a constructive manner, and move along. Your passion, optimism, and aspiration will help you develop along the way.

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Learn organization skills. Training is an event, so just becoming a great trainer will not make your session successful. Learn what happens “backstage” for a training event. There is planning, scheduling, getting materials ready, booking the venue, and handling the logistics—each thing counts!

Learn organization skills. Training is an event, so just becoming a great trainer will not make your session successful. Learn what happens “backstage” for a training event. There is planning, scheduling, getting materials ready, booking the venue, and handling the logistics—each thing counts! 

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Learn the ropes of the business. The best way to do this is to apprentice with an experienced trainer in your organization, or at training events. Learn to be independent; get your own copies of materials and other mundane tasks related to training. This will help you look at training more holistically, rather than only looking at the facilitation part.

Learn the ropes of the business. The best way to do this is to apprentice with an experienced trainer in your organization, or at training events. Learn to be independent; get your own copies of materials and other mundane tasks related to training. This will help you look at training more holistically, rather than only looking at the facilitation part. 

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Understand your motivation for training. Is it for yourself, or your audience? Training is not about performing on stage in front of an audience. It is always related to the participants and their needs. Remember, you are not an orator; you are there to facilitate learning for a group of people. Are you filling a learning need for them, and creating a meaningful experience?

Understand your motivation for training. Is it for yourself, or your audience? Training is not about performing on stage in front of an audience. It is always related to the participants and their needs. Remember, you are not an orator; you are there to facilitate learning for a group of people. Are you filling a learning need for them, and creating a meaningful experience? 

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Be passionate. This is one of the most critical competencies that a trainer should possess. You have to be passionate about the subject as well as facilitating, and believe that you are helping someone develop. You need high levels of energy throughout the session to keep your audience engaged throughout. Your passion for what you do can carry you through the entire session.

Be passionate. This is one of the most critical competencies that a trainer should possess. You have to be passionate about the subject as well as facilitating, and believe that you are helping someone develop. You need high levels of energy throughout the session to keep your audience engaged throughout. Your passion for what you do can carry you through the entire session. 

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Training can be fun, but it can also be very challenging. Set a goal for yourself and create action plans that will help you along the path to becoming a facilitator! Here are a few ATD training courses to get you started!

Training can be fun, but it can also be very challenging. Set a goal for yourself and create action plans that will help you along the path to becoming a facilitator!  Here are a few ATD training courses to get you started!